Monday, November 25, 2019
It is cookie day! Two or three times a year, my friend, Star, comes over to bake and decorate cookies with my seven-year-old, Mika. We have expanded cookie day to include Mika’s friends Lily and Alice for the past two years. Cookie days are usually one in December, one during spring break, and one in the summer. We had a weird schedule this year so today was our only chance for all of us to make Christmas cookies. Star was very brave this time and suggested we invite another of Mika’s friends to join cookie day.
Cookie day is a lot of work for Star. She makes the dough at her home the day before so it can sit overnight. Star usually brings a double batch for both families, so she probably made three double batches since we had a third family involved today. Star brings rolling pins, icing, sprinkles, cookie cutters, and everything else she needs, so she makes several trips in and out of my house to bring in the supplies.
Star wrangled all four girls through rolling out dough, cutting shapes, baking, and decorating. Then she cleans my kitchen when she is done. I have the original tiny, 1960s oven that was built in my house so I am sure only one tray of cookies can be baked at a time. It makes for a very long day for Star.
Today Star overdelivered. Star made matching aprons for the three older girls and a different one for the three-year-old. She went to the dollar store and bought them each a container to take their cookies home. The girls felt extra special.
I do not like most cookies, but I really like Star’s sugar cookies. Star usually sets out a few unfrosted cookies for me to eat because I find the frosting on the decorated cookies too sweet to eat. This time Star made a batch of her buttercream frosting that is not very sweet and smeared a small amount on my cookies. They are delicious. I have nine cookies to eat!
I do not participate in cookie day in any way. My kitchen is too small to fit me in my wheelchair and five other people, and still be functional. The girl’s moms do not participate in cookie day. It is solely a Star show, and it is one of my most cherished family traditions. I love hearing the excitement in the girl’s voices as they cut cookies and decorate them. I love hearing them race around the house when they get kicked out of the kitchen for baking time. I love eating my nine, barely frosted cookies.
I hope cookie day will continue after I pass. Star will probably need to strong arm my significant other to make it happen, but even though it is a Star-Mika bonding event, I think cookie day will bring back pleasant memories of me for Mika and Star. And everybody will get to eat amazing cookies.
My piece of advice to you is to create some family traditions and expand your idea of family. Star has been helping me with Mika since Mika was born. Star is Mika’s honorary grandmother; and she loves Mika just as much as I do.
Traditions can be as simple as family dinner or emailing mom when you stop for gas on a trip. I am sure the first road trip my older daughter makes after I pass will be bittersweet. She will get to that first gas stop, pull out her phone to email me, and remember I am not on the other end.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.
It is cookie day! Two or three times a year, my friend, Star, comes over to bake and decorate cookies with my seven-year-old, Mika. We have expanded cookie day to include Mika’s friends Lily and Alice for the past two years. Cookie days are usually one in December, one during spring break, and one in the summer. We had a weird schedule this year so today was our only chance for all of us to make Christmas cookies. Star was very brave this time and suggested we invite another of Mika’s friends to join cookie day.
Cookie day is a lot of work for Star. She makes the dough at her home the day before so it can sit overnight. Star usually brings a double batch for both families, so she probably made three double batches since we had a third family involved today. Star brings rolling pins, icing, sprinkles, cookie cutters, and everything else she needs, so she makes several trips in and out of my house to bring in the supplies.
Star wrangled all four girls through rolling out dough, cutting shapes, baking, and decorating. Then she cleans my kitchen when she is done. I have the original tiny, 1960s oven that was built in my house so I am sure only one tray of cookies can be baked at a time. It makes for a very long day for Star.
Today Star overdelivered. Star made matching aprons for the three older girls and a different one for the three-year-old. She went to the dollar store and bought them each a container to take their cookies home. The girls felt extra special.
I do not like most cookies, but I really like Star’s sugar cookies. Star usually sets out a few unfrosted cookies for me to eat because I find the frosting on the decorated cookies too sweet to eat. This time Star made a batch of her buttercream frosting that is not very sweet and smeared a small amount on my cookies. They are delicious. I have nine cookies to eat!
I do not participate in cookie day in any way. My kitchen is too small to fit me in my wheelchair and five other people, and still be functional. The girl’s moms do not participate in cookie day. It is solely a Star show, and it is one of my most cherished family traditions. I love hearing the excitement in the girl’s voices as they cut cookies and decorate them. I love hearing them race around the house when they get kicked out of the kitchen for baking time. I love eating my nine, barely frosted cookies.
I hope cookie day will continue after I pass. Star will probably need to strong arm my significant other to make it happen, but even though it is a Star-Mika bonding event, I think cookie day will bring back pleasant memories of me for Mika and Star. And everybody will get to eat amazing cookies.
My piece of advice to you is to create some family traditions and expand your idea of family. Star has been helping me with Mika since Mika was born. Star is Mika’s honorary grandmother; and she loves Mika just as much as I do.
Traditions can be as simple as family dinner or emailing mom when you stop for gas on a trip. I am sure the first road trip my older daughter makes after I pass will be bittersweet. She will get to that first gas stop, pull out her phone to email me, and remember I am not on the other end.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.